This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.

Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.

Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.

On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.

Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.

Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.

Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.

Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.

Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.

A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

It turns out introverts comprise only about 25% of the population. Hoooray! I finally made it into a minority! I want special “rights”!

Extroverts are energized by people, and wilt or fade when alone. They often seem bored by themselves, in both senses of the expression. Leave an extrovert alone for two minutes and he will reach for his cell phone. In contrast, after an hour or two of being socially “on,” we introverts need to turn off and recharge. My own formula is roughly two hours alone for every hour of socializing. This isn’t antisocial. It isn’t a sign of depression. It does not call for medication. For introverts, to be alone with our thoughts is as restorative as sleeping, as nourishing as eating. Our motto: “I’m okay, you’re okay—in small doses.”

This causes some stress having to be working for eight hours; I work in a call center with hundreds of people and I must interact with dozens of them. It can especially be daunting as a regular church participant. That’s an especially social and extroverted group. After meetings or choir practice folks stand around and chit chat; I’m looking for an escape route. No disrespect meant. The event is over, it’s time to go.

Rauch again:

The worst of it is that extroverts have no idea of the torment they put us through. Sometimes, as we gasp for air amid the fog of their 98-percent-content-free talk, we wonder if extroverts even bother to listen to themselves. Still, we endure stoically, because the etiquette books—written, no doubt, by extroverts—regard declining to banter as rude and gaps in conversation as awkward. We can only dream that someday, when our condition is more widely understood, when perhaps an Introverts’ Rights movement has blossomed and borne fruit, it will not be impolite to say “I’m an introvert. You are a wonderful person and I like you. But now please shush.”

1 comment:

Steven L Dexter

About Me

Live and work in Las Vegas. Attend First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Las Vegas. I served in Vietnam from December 1969 to February 1971 in the 11th Armored Cav..."I" Troop... where I drove a tank, and Air Cav in the ARP's (Aero Rifle Platoon). Also served in the Navy from 1976 to 1980 on the USS Cayuga and USS Duluth. I graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1974 with a degree in social work. I spent two years hitching and working in the oil patch in Wyoming as a roughneck. Lived for about 25 years in San Diego, my favorite city. I'm proud to be Christian, Soldier, Sailor, Conservative.

Angle of Repose

Angle of repose (Physics), the inclination of a plane at which a body placed on the plane would remain at rest, or if in motion would roll or slide down with uniform velocity; the angle at which the various kinds of earth will stand when abandoned to themselves.To me it represents a state when elements and influences of my life come into balance. The angle where a relationship leans perfectly to support one another. The angle where my relationship with God is where I remain at rest on Him. The angle where my intellectual and spiritual growth constantly increases.

Paul Dexter's Sites (My Brother)

Contributor

There's a contributer to this blog, "The Windrose Hotel" from Italy. For all things in news, history, literature, architecture, and religion from a Christian, Conservative, European perspective, this is the site. I'm pleased to have his perspective added to The Metaphysical Peregrine.

People That Need to Hear About Jesus

Books Read 2017

"Death Without Company" *** A Longmire Mystery, Craig Johnson. Good stories and characters. These are mysteries and more. Lots of Wyoming and Indian lore.

"G-Man" *** Stephen Hunter Superb writing, well reseached and infomative as well as complelling and entertaining. Hunter has a recurring character in his novels, Bob Lee Swagger, and this is one of them. Highly recommended.

"Hot Springs" *** Part of the Swagger series, this one with Earl Swagger. Mindless good storytelling.

"Kindness Goes Unpunished" ** Craig Johnson. A Longmire Mystery" Couldn't get into it. Takes place in Philadelphia, and just wasn't compelling or interesting. Don't know if it was the events or location or writing.

"Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead" ** Sheryl Sandberg. Sandberg is a Lefitst Feminst that has been high up at Google and Facebook. She accidently stumbles on a couple good points. Uses dated stats to support her observations. This was read for a bookclub on women in leadership. We had good discusssions from a not very good book.

"Savage Country" *** Robert Olmstead --Western, hard core men and women on a buffalo hunt of epic proportion. Good narrative, characters, action. Recommended.

"The Hemlock Cup" *** Bethany Huges- A history of Athens at the time of Socrates. The book gives a sense of time and place, what it was like to live in Athens then. They had their moments, but overall, nasty and brutal.

"The Witches" *** Stacy Schiff- A reporting and chronical of the Salem witch trials. Details of that, the personalities and what it was like to live then. Slow worthwhile read.

Movies Seen 2017

"American Assassin" *** Action packed compelling thriller. Well done.

"Blade Runner 2049" ** It was slow, ponderous, over produced and self-indulgent. Obviously not a Philip K Dick written story. The soundtrack wasn't music, but loooooog atonal disharmonic tones backed by percussive sounds. I was just irritated by it. You know that head drop and that startle's you to wake up? Did that. One of the elements for me of a good movie is if engages me and I have no sense of time. I couldn't wait for this to end. Other than that, I didn't like it.

"Dunkirk" **** We all know what it's about. Stars unimportant. As close to a perfect movie as you're going to get.

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 " *** Great fun. Highly entertaining!

"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" ** The first one was so good I saw it twice. This one couldn't decide if it wanted to be parody, comedy, serious or what. Many jump the shark scenes. Not smart and stylish at all. Dissappointed.

"Logan" *** Hugh Jackson. Wolverine character, really good. Good story and acting. Well done and enjoyable.

"Silence" *** Martin Scorsese's movie about 17th century Jesuits in Japan. Most didn't like it; I was enamored. It was long, nearly 3 hours, and slow paced.

"Wonder Woman" *** Fun, well acted, well directed. Too bad caught up in divisive cultural wars utterances. This was just a fun movie with themes of justice, courage, altruism and caring. Highly recommended.